He can turn the mundane into something sweet (“Foldin Clothes”) or act out in rebellion (“Fire Squad”). Raised in Fayetteville, N.C., he’s Southern to the core - but also reps Queens as a St. Down to earth and humble, Cole possesses a passion that pulsates throughout his raps and beats. Cole’s story is well-known: Hov signed him to Roc Nation as its first artist in 2009 after he garnered attention with “Lights Please” and dropped some blistering guest verses (Wale’s “Beautiful Bliss,” Kanye West’s “Looking for Trouble”). Cole made a name for himself with celebrated mixtapes like 2007’s The Come Up, 2009’s The Warm Up and 2010’s Friday Night Lights. Albums like AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate still stand as some of rap’s most provocative works – and when he wasn’t sharpening his pro-Black commentary against the systemic racism crippling the community, he was equally adept at balancing tongue-in-cheek insights with feel-good storytelling, as on his timeless 1993 hit “It Was a Good Day.”Ī defining byproduct of rap’s blog era, J. But even after writing rhymes that triggered FBI attention and radio bans, Ice Cube launched an even more extraordinary solo run. Doubling as one of gangsta rap’s foundational platforms, the album featured the controversial anthems “Fuck Tha Police” and “Gangsta Gangsta,” and was certified triple-platinum despite minimal radio or MTV promotion. Dre, Eazy-E, Arabian Prince, DJ Yella and MC Ren) and himself on Straight Outta Compton, the group’s classic 1988 debut. Image Credit: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/GIīefore Ice Cube, born O’Shea Jackson, became a Hollywood heavyweight and basketball league owner, he wrote brilliant and incisive verses for his N.W.A groupmates (Dr. 5 on Billboard’s 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time. Lyrically, she pushed hip-hop beyond its boundaries regarding female empowerment, with a fearlessness that also imbued her innovative and still-influential music videos. While turning heads with hit singles (“The Rain,” “Hot Boyz,” “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It”) and acclaimed albums ( Da Real World, Miss E … So Addictive, Under Construction, This Is Not a Test), she crafted a uniquely futuristic, funky and totally unique style of hip-hop that found her rhyming, singing, scatting or doing whatever else the beat might spontaneously spark. After collaborating on projects by Aaliyah and others, the pair focused their attention on Elliott’s solo career, beginning with her arresting 1997 debut, Supa Dupa Fly. One of hip-hop’s most creative visionaries, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott began honing her skills as a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer as a member of the R&B/hip-hop collective Swing Mob in the early ‘90s with childhood friend/producer Timbaland. So now, let’s run through Billboard/ Vibe’s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time … and let the debate rage on. In addition, that mix also encompasses 50 years of cultural milestones for a genre initially dismissed as a passing fad - and now recognized as the industry’s market-share leader. So it took a lot of deliberation and deep discussion to reason our way to what we believe is a well-thought-out, authentic list that reflects hip-hop’s foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary mainstays. We also opted not to include the significant contributions of reggaetón and dancehall MCs on this list, just to keep our pool of nominees a little more focused.įrom there, the teams took into account the following criteria, not in any particular order: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).Īs is well known, GOAT and similar best-of lists always draw their share of criticism and praise from industry pundits and the public alike. So for example, as estimable as his career is, British rapper Slick Rick isn’t on this list. In determining these rankings, the Billboard and Vibe editorial teams opted first to limit the rap arena to North America. We’ve revealed 10 more rappers each week since, with the final top 10 now unveiled below. (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool Herc first set up his two turntables to rock a Bronx party.) The rollout began with the Jan. In early 2023, Billboard/ Vibe is ranking the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time as part of our salute to this year’s golden anniversary of hip-hop. That’s a distinguished - and also contentious - honor when it comes to ranking who or what is the ultimate best, whether you’re talking films, TV shows, restaurants or any other subject.
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